FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2023

Mayor Noble Announces New Safety Measure, Lowered Speed Near Childcare Center Areas

Applications Now Open for Childcare Centers to Request Speed Zone

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that Resolution 63 of 2023 was passed by the Common Council at the March meeting, allowing childcare centers in the City of Kingston to request 15 mile per hour speed zones.

Childcare centers within the City of Kingston that meet the New York State Department of Transportation criteria, can now request, via the City Engineer’s Office, a 15mph zone established from 7:00am to 6:00pm.

“After meeting with community members in the wake of a tragic cyclist death near the Y, this was one of the solutions we discussed to help improve safety conditions across the City of Kingston,” said Mayor Noble. “We felt that, because this crash happened in a childcare area, creating a reduced speed zone is one action we could take to help improve the safety of all. After our discussion, I moved quickly to propose this legislation to the Common Council, and I thank the Council members for their swift action in approving this crucial safety measure.”

Heidi Kirschner, Executive Director of the Kingston YMCA said, “I am truly grateful to the City of Kingston for passing the reduced speed limit for childcare areas. This action will significantly improve safety on Pine Grove Avenue for Y families that drop youth off for childcare and camp. It will also make coming and going from the Fuller/YMCA campus safer for all our teen and adult pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. It will reduce the risk of accidents and allow for improved wellness in our neighborhood. On behalf of my entire YMCA community, I offer heartfelt thanks for making this happen.”

Bryant “Drew” Andrews of the Center for Creative Education said, “Reducing the speed limit on Cedar Street and in childcare center zones is a crucial step in ensuring the safety of our children and seniors. It is our responsibility to create an environment that allows our children and seniors to learn, play, and grow without fear of traffic accidents.”

Public Safety Committee Chair Tony Davis said, “The safety of Kingston residents is our top priority. The mayor and the Council are using every available tool to create a safe community, and I’m happy to support this initiative to protect children coming to and from our local childcare centers. As we continue to work toward creating a walkable, bikeable city, this is one step of many to ensure everything is being done to protect our residents.”

Application: https://kingston-ny.gov/filestorage/8399/8469/8537/Child_Care_Center_Application.pdf

The adoption of the speed regulation in childcare areas is yet another step in Mayor Noble’s ongoing efforts to create a safe, walkable and bikeable City. The City recently released a draft of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, a strategy document that builds upon completed projects that include safety features such as improved intersections, signals and sidewalks. Completed projects include the Broadway Streetscape Project, Broadway Grand Intersection Improvements Project, the Franklin Street Complete Streets Project,  and the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Project, among many others. Current or upcoming road safety projects include the Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project, ADA curb ramp replacements across the City, Safe and Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall, the Uptown Transportation Improvements Projects, and many more to come. Under Mayor Noble’s administration, the Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 1 (Phase 2 is under design) and the Midtown Linear Park have been created, both of which provide off-street paths and connections for walking and biking. The Kingston Greenline is a network of urban trails, complete streets, improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and linear parks in the City of Kingston.